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College List BuildingUC Berkeley Common Data Set
Sifting through a college’s Common Data Set can take a lot of time. Instead, we’ve gathered the most important information from UC Berkeley’s most recent Common Data Set to provide you with the information you need at a quick glance. This guide contains key information from UC Berkeley Common Data Set 2025-2026. Berkeley Common Data…
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SurviveThe Good, the Bad, and the Clingy: What Type of Parent Are You on College Drop-Off Day?
Discover the four types of college parents during dorm drop-off day. Are you a military driller or a reluctant fareweller? Find out now!
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SurviveSaying Goodbye to Your College Freshman: Tips for Parents
Saying goodbye to a college freshman can be an emotional and challenging experience for parents. Here are some tips you can share with parents to help them navigate this transition: Be Supportive and Positive Emphasize the excitement of this new chapter in their child’s life. Encourage parents to express their confidence in their freshman’s abilities…
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ApplyCommon Data Set Ultimate Guide: Use it to Find the Right College
With about 4,000 U.S. colleges to choose from, finding the right college at the right price is no easy task. The Common Data Set provides standardized information about each college that may help you in the process. From financial aid stats to average GPA, here’s what you can expect from the data and how to…
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Family JourneysHow My Neurodiverse Student Got Into Graduate School
A parent of a neurodiverse student who started in an autism support classroom shares how her student got into grad school. This story was first published in our Paying for College 101 Facebook community. It’s been edited for clarity and flow. The name of the member has been omitted to protect their privacy. A parent…
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Apply10 College Essay Topics to Avoid: What Admissions Officers Don’t Want to See
A college essay can fail for a number of reasons. The writing can be of poor quality, the theme can be predictable, the execution of the essay can simply flop, or the student’s personality doesn’t shine through. We’ve compiled a list of 10 essay topics that don’t work, especially if the essay is not compelling…
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ApplyCollege Planning Mistakes: Common Pitfalls Parents Can Avoid
Navigating the college planning process can be a challenging task for parents. With numerous decisions to make and limited guidance available, it’s easy to fall into common pitfalls that can hinder your child’s journey toward higher education. In this article, we will explore some of the most frequent mistakes parents make when planning for college…
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AdviceCollege Countdown: Motivational Gifts for Your High School Senior
A parent decided to give her student gifts to open in the months leading up to graduation. Read how she did it! This story was first published in our Paying for College 101 Facebook community. It’s been edited for clarity and flow. Many parents give their high school seniors gifts once they graduate. But why…
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ApplyHow to Apply to College: A Comprehensive Guide
Between applying to colleges and preparing for graduation, your child’s senior year of high school is a busy time. You and your student need to work together to decide where they should apply. Filling out applications and keeping track of deadlines can feel overwhelming and stressful. Use this step-by-step guide on how to apply for…
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SurviveSurviving College Move-In Day: A Comprehensive Guide with Checklist
Transitioning into college life often involves moving into a new environment, and this shift can be quite daunting for both parents and students. One crucial aspect of this transition is college move-in day, a day filled with excitement, anticipation, and yes, a bit of stress. To help manage the chaos of this milestone, we’ve compiled…
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AdviceApplying to Colleges in the UK and the U.S: Know the Differences
Here’s everything you need to know about applying to both UK and U.S. colleges.
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Student & Parent LoansAre Interest-Free Student Loans Available?
There is a hidden resource for college student loans that many people do not know about—it’s called an interest-free student loan. What Are Interest-Free Student Loans? An interest-free loan is a loan that has no interest and no fees. If you borrow $500, you pay back $500—period. Yes, they really do exist. Interest-free loans are…
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AdviceHow My Student with Learning Differences Got Into 8 Schools and Earned $100,000 in Merit Scholarships
This story was first published in our Paying for College 101 Facebook community. It’s been edited for clarity and flow. A parent in our Paying for College Facebook Group shared a post about her “average” daughter, and the floodgates opened: “Since we see so many high stats posts and it can feel overwhelming when you…
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AdviceSteps to Success: A Full-Ride Scholarship Recipient’s Guide to the College Admission Process
This story was first published in our Paying for College 101 Facebook community. It’s been edited for clarity and flow. The name of the member has been omitted to protect their privacy. Understanding the College Admissions and Scholarship Processes As a full-ride college scholarship recipient, I’m eager to share my personal journey through the maze…
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AdviceDetermining Your College Budget: Affordability vs. What You’re Willing to Pay
This article is sponsored by College Ave Student Loans, dedicated to helping students and families pay for higher education. One of the most important steps to take before researching and applying to colleges is to determine your family’s college budget. Why? You don’t want your student to fall in love with a school that’s too…
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High school to collegeMoney Management for Teenagers
As a mom, I’m learning that “the money talk” with teenagers is about more than money—it’s about family values and recognizing that everyone may not be on the same page. Bottom line: We can’t resolve our differences until we have the talk. The teenage years are so important to help our students develop money management…
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AdviceAn Ivy League Journey: From Yale to Medical School
This story was first published in our Paying for College 101 Facebook community. It’s been edited for clarity and flow. The name of the member has been omitted to protect their privacy. I attended Yale back when it was comparatively less costly and simpler to gain admission. Although I’m appreciative of my time there, it’s…
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ApplyAmusing Reasons Why Students Rejected Colleges
A parent in our Paying for College 101 FB Group recently asked the community for some of the most “interesting” reasons why kids turned down a college. They came through with over a thousand comments, and we’ve gathered some of our favorites here for you to enjoy. The Tour Guide Made Me Do It Don’t…
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AdviceShowing Demonstrated Interest in a College Helps Prevent Being Labeled a “Stealth Applicant”
There’s nothing secretive about applying to college. So, what do admissions officers mean when they refer to some students as “stealth applicants?” And what does demonstrated interest have to do with it all? See It From the College’s Point of View Stealth applicants are students who apply to colleges without showing demonstrated interest or engaging…
